Plastic and method of producing same



Patented Mar, 26,140 1 d T i UNITED .5 1 j Robert C. Hills and MaxwellBarnett, Port Sulphur, La.

No Drawing. Application November 1, 1937, Serial No. 172',272

1 Claim. (Cl. 260-37) This invention relates to that class of comesulphide resins which are contemplated by this positions known asplastics. 7 application include those produced by the inter- Sulphur inits normal process of cooling from action of-the polysulphides of thealkaline earths, the molten form crystallizes into a brittleymass thealkali metals, ammonia or organic bases of little or no strength. Inthis form it not only with aldehydes, aldehyde derivatives or aldehyde"5 lacks strength and plasticity but also adherence polymers; Examplesof thealdehydes which may and other properties desirable in plastics,and. be employed are formaldehyde and benzaldebecause of the lack ofthese properties, it cannot H hyde. An example of the aldehydederivatives be used for the purposes for which plastics'are contemplatedis h'exame'thylene tetramine. An commonly used. example of aldehydepolymers is paraformalde- '"10 Various methods of making plastic sulphurhave hyde.- been devised but have not been successfully or For thepurposes or" the claims in this appliextensively used either because ofthe expense incation, the term aldehyde will be understood to volved inmaking plastic sulphur, or because of include not only the truealdehydesbut also the 5 undesirable properties of the resultingplastics. aldehyde derivatives, and the aldehyde polymers. 15

This invention has for its general object the W'here the term isintended to be limited to true provision of a new and improved methodwherealdehydes, the word true will precede the word by a good plasticsulphur may be inexpensively aldehyde. produced. In like manner, theword polysulphide A specific object of the invention is to provideWherever used without modification shall be una new and improved methodfor inhibitingthe ,derstood to include polysulphides of the alkalinecrystallization of sulphur to produce an inexpenearth group;polysulphides of the alkali metal sive plastic having many desirableproperties group, polysulphides of ammonia and polysulhereinafterreferred to. phides of the organic bases. 5 Other objects and advantagesof the composi- 13yv way of morespecific example, one desirable tion andprocess of producing the same conform of plastic sulphur may be producedby heat templated by this invention will become apparent ing: 80" gramsof sulphur to any point above its from the following description whichis given by melting point, but preferably not exceeding 160 way ofillustration and example and not by way I 0., and adding to this moltensulphur 20 grams 0 of limitation. I I of an aldehyde-polysulphide resin,this resin be- This invention consists in general of the formaingprepared by the condensation of formaldetion of a plastic sulphur bymixing with sulphur hyde with sodium pentasulphide. The resulting asuitable proportion of an aldehyde-polysulphide mixture is stirred untilthe resin goes into a solures-in. We have discovered that the resinsformed tion in the sulphur, the temperature range re- 5 by thecondensation of aldehydes' with polysulferred to being maintained duringthe mixing phides are soluble in molten sulphur in all proprocess. Themixturewill then be allowed to portions and that the presence of theseresins in cool and may be used in the manner in which sulphur serves toinhibit crystallization more plastics are ordinarily employed.completely than any previously known method. Another specif c resinwhich can. be employed These resins also are in many cases relawithgreat advantage is one obtained by the con- 40 tively inexpensive and bycomparison a reladensationof formaldehyde with sodium tri-sultivelysmall quantity of the resin 'isnecessary to phide (NazSa). produce thedesired degree of plasticity. The Specifically, the, preparation of thisresin may degree of plasticity obtainable is substantially be asfollows: Asolutionof sodium trisulphide 7 directly proportional to theamount of resin em is prepared by. dissolving 165 grams of sodirunployed and the resultant product is substantially sulphide and 135 gramsof sulphur in 500 cc. of odorless and free from discoloration. water.The resulting solution is heated to -.90 C. The product resulting fromthisprocess. aside and to it isslowly added 500 cc. of a 37per cent fromthe qualities just mentioned, is very tough, formaldehyde solution. Theresin is obtained as I has a strength far beyond that of any previouslya granular preciptate, which is filtered off, washed known plasticsulphur, possesses excellent mold-- and dried, producing a whiteamorphous powder. ing and adhesive qualities, and is exceedingly Thepreparation of this resin, as well as the resistant to chemical attackso that it is suitable resin per se, are being claimed in a separate forlining acid vats, etc. co-pending application, S. N. 170,624, filed Oc-5 It is to be understood that the aldehyde-poly tober .23; 1937. Y

invention.

is one formed by the treatment of aldehyde polysulphide resins with acondensing agent such as sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonia, zincchloride or stannicchloride in a liquid medium;

This treated productis a superior type. of resin and produces superiorresults when mixed with sulphur to form a plastic in accordance withthis The treatment of aldehyde polysulphide resins to produce the resinjust referred to is also being claimed in a separate co-pendingapplication.

The plastic sulphur produced by the process above described may beutilized by mixing with sand or other suitable fillers for theproduction of a cement or plaster, cements or plasters so produced beingexceedingly strong and highly re sistant to chemical attack. This isespecially true when the resins used as the plasticizing agent have beenfirst subjected to the condensation process with condensing agents suchas sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonia or the like.

When the cement is formed of a mixture of sand, sulphur, and the resinformed by the condensation of sodium trisulphide and formaldehyde inapproximately the proportion of 50% sand, sulphur, and 10% of the resinreferred to, the cement exhibits astonishing properties of strength,such a cement having a tensile strength in the neighborhood of 1000 lbs.per square inch.

Various uses to which the cheap plastic sulphur provided by thisinvention may be put will be.

readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, cheap plasticsulphur is useful as a binder for wood waste or other'woody material tomake wall boards with excellent insulating and Y sound-proofingproperties.

It is useful as a binder for roads, walks, tennis courts and the like.It may be used to impregnate paper products to make them water andoilproof. It may be found useful as a substitute for asphaltic materialand the fabrication of high grade roofs and the like. It will serve asan adhesive for metal surfaces. It can be used as a substitutefor rubberwhere the article has to come in contact with corrosive liquids orhydrocarbons.

By the foregoing, it will be seen that a sulphur plastic and method ofproducing the same has been provided whereby all of the objects soughtby this invention may be realized.

Having described our invention, we claim:

A composition of matter in the nature of a cement comprising sand, 40%sulphur, and 10% of a resin obtained in the form of a granularprecipitate by dissolving an alkali metal sulphide and sulphur in 500 c.0.01? water, heating the re sulting solution to C. and reactingtherewith 500 c. c. of a 37% formaldehyde solution, the resin beingmelted into the sulphur which has been heated to a point not exceedingC., said composition of matter being highly resistant to chemical attackand having a tensile strength in the neighborhood of 1000 pounds persquare inch.

ROBERT C. HILLS. MAXWELL M. BARNETT.

